Lee Hae-rin is a City Desk reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues, tourism and taekwondo. She is passionate about speaking up for the rights of minorities, including women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities and animals as well as discovering the latest makgeolli trend in town. Feel free to reach her at lhr@koreatimes.co.kr.
Lotte hotel elevates Gyeongju's hospitality ahead of APEC summit
Lotte Hotels & Resorts staff provide a protocol training program to accommodation professionals in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, in this undated handout photo. Courtesy of Lotte Hotel and Resorts
By Lee Hae-rin
Lotte Hotels & Resorts announced on Monday that it had provided a comprehensive protocol training program for accommodation professionals in Gyeongju, sharing nearly five decades of expertise in top-level guest services in order to raise the bar for local hospitality standards ahead of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
The training focused on Lotte’s world-class experience in hosting heads of state and major international events.
Lectures and practical exercises in hosting VIPs were led by experts from the acclaimed concierge team at Lotte Hotel Seoul and the company’s hospitality training center, Service Academy.
Notably, the program covered cultural sensitivity and personalized service. Attendees explored detailed manuals covering diverse national customs, religious considerations and diplomatic protocols in preparation for welcoming dignitaries from around the world.
Participants in the initiative included the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ APEC preparation task force, the North Gyeongsang Province’s APEC support team, the Presidential Suite committee and representatives from Gyeongju’s leading hotels.
“Hotels play a crucial role in shaping a nation's first impression at international events like APEC. We are committed to showcasing Korea’s hospitality excellence to the world,” said a staff member at Lotte Hotels & Resorts.
Gyeongju, a historic city in North Gyeongsang Province renowned for its rich cultural heritage, is set to host the 2025 APEC summit from Oct. 31-Nov. 1. Korea also hosted the recent APEC gathering in Busan from April 30-May 1.